CLARE FOOTBALL BOSS Colm Collins believes Cork All-Ireland winner Paudie Kissane will be a major asset to the Banner as the county’s new senior football team coach.
Collins, who was appointed last month to succeed Mick O’Dwyer, revealed that he had long been an admirer of 33 year-old Kissane who retired recently from inter-county level with the Rebels.
Kissane’s appointment was revealed by The Clare People and Collins has confirmed to TheScore.ie that the recruitment of Kissane was finalised yesterday.
“I’d have been a great admirer of Paudie as a footballer. He was a guy who came late to the inter-county game but worked really hard and achieved a lot with Cork.
“I’ve been looking for a football coach and I asked around. Paudie’s name came up, so I contacted him and we met. We thrashed out the details and yesterday he agreed to come on board.
“It’s taken a while to sort out but I think he’ll be a major asset to Clare football. His role will be as a football coach. Paudie has great qualifications in other areas which will be an asset but it’s football he’ll be concentrating on with us.”
Clare’s training sessions will be primarily based in the University of Limerick, which will facilitate the Cork-based Kissane.
“It’ll be more convenient for Paudie to travel to Limerick”, says Collins. “He’s young and a very good guy who I feel will get on well with our players. He’s ambitious as well and that’s good for Clare football.”
Clare manager Colm Collins
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Collins also paid tribute to long-serving Clare footballer Ger Quinlan, from the O’Curry’s club, who has retired from the inter-county game.
“Ger was an outstanding player for Clare. Any day he went out for the county, he played really well. He was very consistent that way. He’d made up his mind that it was time to bow out and we wish him well.”